Grinding-machine.



P. F. ROACH.

enmnma MACHINE.

umcmon men APR. 1a. 1916.

Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- 51 noemfoc P. F. ROACH.

GRINDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.13. 1916.

Patented Sept. 19

1916. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

PATRICK F. ROACH, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE WARNER BROTHERS COMPANY, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CON- NECTICUT.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known-that I, PATRICK F. RoAoH, a

' citizen of the United States, and a resident of Bridgeport, county of Fairfield, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grinding-Machines,

of which the following is a specification.

This invention. relates to grinding machines.

More particularly this invention relates to grinding machines wherein the extent of grinding the Work is automatically controlled.

Another feature of the invention is the provision ofmeans for feeding, preferably magnetically, the work to the grinder orgrinders.

A still further feature of the invention is the provision of means for automatically discharging the work after the same has been ground.

My invention, in a preferred form thereof, may be described by illustrating a construction adapted for grinding corset clasps, steels, stays, etc. In such forms of my invention, theclasps arefed into a suitable magazine, then automatically discharged from such magazine onto a movable supdesired extent of grinding. The movable support of such preferred form of my invention may be a rotating circular table having pairs of radially arranged grippers for respectively grasping individual clasps, feeding the same to each grinding device in succession, and a sweeper comprising arms adapted to release the ground work from the grippers and discharging the same in any suitable sorting or other receiving means.

Futher features and objects of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of one form of my invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same: Fig. 3 is a detail diagrammatic view showing the magazine and a number of Specification of Letters Patent.

GRmiJmG-MAoHINE.

grippers; and Fig. 4 is a detail side .view of a portion of an automatic gage.

Referring to Figs. 1 and'2, the magazine 1 is shown of the vertical type and comprises spaced vertical guides 2, 2, between which the articles 3 are fed, one onto the other. As indicated in Fig. 3., the magazine 1 is provided at its bottom with release plates 4 for allowing the articles 3 to" be automatically discharged one by one, from the magazine 1, by codperation with apparatus set forth more specifically hereinafter.

Y The magazine 1 is shown supported on an outer standard 5 and on. an inner standard 6, extending axially relative to the illustrated rotating feed means. The feeding means 'comprlses a table 7, rotated by the annular gear 8, fixed thereto, and driven by the driving gear 9, in turn driven by the power shaft 10 through a chain of gearing or the like. 'Said table is shown supported onto the central fixed column 11 by means of the hub 12 riding thereon, preferably by the employment of suitable anti-friction bearing means. Adjacent the upper surfaces of table 7 are disposed outer grippers 13 and inner grippers 14 respectively forming radially arranged pairs of grippers, whereby to convey the articles to the grinding devices. The table 7 is assumed to be rotated in the anti-clockwise direction as viewed by looking down upon Fig. 1, indicated by the arrow 15. Each outer gripper 13 is formed of a body portion 16 extending into and through a vertical opening 17 within the table 7, said body portion 16 having a stem 18 projecting below the table 7 and adapted to ride upon the vertical adjusting means shown as a circular, more or less horizontal surface 19 supported on the feet 20. The anterior portion 21 of said guiding surface 19 controls the position of each gripper as the same approaches and reaches therelease plates 4, but, upon leaving the release plates 4, the relatively lower posterior surface portion 22 lowers each gripper 13, and therewith the article supported thereby, to feed the same in suitable relation to the grinding devices. The inner grippers 14 are constructed similarly to the outer grippers 13 and the anterior surface portion 21 and the posterior surface portion 22 act similarly upon said inner grippers 14. Preferably. each gripper 13, 14, as shown in Fig. 3 is provided with a central dished portion 23 Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

Application filed April 13, 1916. Serial No. 90,804. i i

- ciently hi h to force the lowermost article 3 out of 't e magazine 1 to drop into the," dished portion 23 thereof, asindicatedby' and a relatively high rearward edge '25.

Thus, as each gripper13 approachesthemagazine 1 (see extreme left hand gripper 13 in Fig. 3) the forward edge 24 is brought below the lowermost article 3 in the magazine 1, but the rearward edge extends suflithe central gripper 13 of Fig. 3.

the degree" of holding effected by each gripper onto the clasp or other article held thereon, and for such purpose the table or supportflf'is provided with suitably arranged electro-magnetic winding (not shown) supplied through the electric cable 26. Accordingly, as each gripper approaches themagazine, releasing the lowermost article therefrom,'th'e relatively lower surface portion 22 brings such article more closely toward suitable grinding the support 1, and thereby within the region of.- greater magnetio; strength, under which conditions the article is brought into relation the grinding device or devices.

I have illustrated three grindin devices in the embodiment shown inthe rawings,

and have indicated the same as of the rotary type and have mounted-the same to effect the particular character of grinding desired for the purposes at hand. The particular grinding desired for corset clasps is to effect a taper adjacent one end thereof and an enlargement constituting a tip. For such purpose, each grinding device is mounted so that its axis is displaced but a slight angle to the vertical, whereby the grinding effected will be tapered toward the end of the clasp adjacent the grinding device.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the rotary grinder 30, mounted onto the frame 31 is driven by means of the pulley 32 traversed by the power belt 33. As will be seen from Fig. 1, the outer end of-each clasp will extend beyond the periphery of the grinder 30 to provide the non-ground and relatively enlarged tip 34. It will be understood that the speed of rotation of the grinder relative to the speed of travel of each clasp will'be proportioned to effect the amount of grinding desired to be eifected by such grinder.

After each article 3 has passed out of grinding relation with the grinder 30, it will be brought into relation with the automatic gage 36, shown in detail in Fig. 4. Said automatic gage comprises the arm 37 preferably carrying the roller 38 at its end and pivoted onto the bracket 39 fixed to the frame 31. The spring 40 normally tends to hold the upper end 43 of arm 37 against the adjustable stop 44. Adjacent the arm portion 43, which is of electrically c0nduc-,

tive material, is arranged the adjustable contact 45 connected through the conductor 46 to a source of electric energy. The arm portion 43 is also connected with said source through the conductor 47 and other actuatingmeans to be set forth more particularly [vice on the article or work 3 is not suflicient, 'the increased height of such portion of the 1 article 3 will cause the roller 38 to be e1e I have shown magnetic means for varying vated, therebv causing the arm portion 43 to be brought into contact with the contact 45, thereby closing the circuit through the onto the shaft 51 of the grinder 30, and a stop ring 52 fixed to said shaft 51, and the screw-threaded adjuster 53 meshing with the threaded arm 54 of said sleeve 50. Suitable means are provided for turning the adjuster 53 to move said sleeve 50 downwardly or upwardly, the first named movement increasing the extent of grinding by the grinding wheel 30 and the last named movement decreasing the extent of grinding by the grinding wheel 30. For such purpose, .I have'provided the worm gear 55 fixed to adjuster 53 and meshing with the spiral gear 56 mounted on the shaft 57 provided with the clutch 58, operable by the solenoid 59 controlled by the electric circuit of said conductors 46, 47. The shaft 57 may be operated by the power shaft 10 driving in common the said power belt 33. To such end, I have shown the bevel gear 61 driven by power shaft 10 meshing with bevel gear 62 on secondary shaft 63 having. the spiral gear 64 fixed thereto, and meshing with the worm gear 65 fixed to shaft 57. In the specific grinding machine illustrated, I have added two grinders 66, 67, driven also by the common driving shaft 10, driving the power belt 33 through the pulley 68, and

a have provided automatic gages 69, similar' to said gage 36. Said gages 69, 70 may be connected to thecommon source of electric energy by conductors similar to said conductors 46, 47, as by connection to said source in parallel or multiple, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. After the desired grinding has been accomplished,

, the articles are discharged from the table or other feeding means, as by means of the sweeper 71, comprising the spaced arms 72 having fingers 73, 73 and mounted to be rotated by means of the gear 74, driven by the power shaft 10, or otherwise. The speed ofrotation of said arms 72 is very high with respect to the speed of the rotation. of the table 7 depending upon the number of sweeper arm s, the number of grippers or holding means on the table or feeding means and other factors, as will be readily understood. Preferably, the adjusting means 19 controlling the vertical position of the grippers 13, let, anterior to the sweepenor discharger is relatively elevated, similar to the higher S1l1f2l06' 21, to cause each article to "be vmoved intoa relatively Weaker portion of the magnetic field, and thereby facilitate the discharge of the articles. The article may be discharged by the sweeper in'to'any approved sorting device or other receiver.

For simplification of operation, I have shown the several shafts 57 of the respective adjustable mounting means of the grind-- ers to be driven in commonby the chains 80. As arranged, the three grinders perform grinding operations over the same area of It will be noted that the set stops 44 of the respective automatic gages and the ad'- justable contact 45 are adjusted in accord 1 ance with the amount of grinding to be done by the corresponding grinding device.

It will be understood that other forms of feeding means comprising other types of gripp'ers or the like may be employed. However, the form shown in the drawings is advantageous particularly in effecting a'relatively strong gripping or holding of the article during the stage of grinding. The

magnetic arrangement is also advantageous in accelerating the speed of release of the articles from the magazine onto the holding means of the feeder.

Whereas I have described my invention by reference to specific forms thereof, it will be understood that many changes-and modifications may be made-Without departing from my invention.

I claim:

1. The combination With a movable feeding means, of a grinding device and means for automatically controlling the extent of grinding the article fed to said grinding device by said feeding means.

2. The -combination with a movable feeding means, of a grinding device and means controlled by the article ground for automatically controlling said grinding device.

3. The combination of a movable feeding means, a grinding device, means for mounting said grinding device in adjustable relation to the path of feeding of said feeding means. and means controlled by the article ground for automatically controlling the position of said mounting means.

4. The combination ofa movable feeding means, a grindingdevice, means, for.- determining the extent of grinding and-means controlled by said determining means for automatically controlling said. grinding device. J J

5. The combination of'a movable feeding means, a grinding device. and a"means automatically responsive to a'dimension of the article ground for determining the path of grinding of said grinding device.

6. The combination of a movablefeeding means,'a grinding device, a'second grinding device and means responsive to the extent of grinding performed by said. first named grinding device for controlling-said second named grinding device. I

' 7. The combinationof amovable'feeding means, a. grinding device, rotary mounting means for said. grinding device, means for controlling the positoin of said mounting means and means controlled by the'extent of grinding of said grinding device for controlling said mounting controlling means.

8. The combination of a movable feeding means, a plurality of grinding devices, common means for driving said grinding de vices, means for determining the position of one of said grinding devices, vand means controlled by the-extent of grinding of another of said grinding devices for controlling said determining means.

9. The combination of a movable feeding means, of a plurality of grinding devices, common means for driving said grinding devices, individual means for determining the respective positions of said grinding devices and means responsive to the extent of grinding controlling said position determining means.

10. The combination of a movable table, movable carrying elements mounted thereon, a magazine and means varying the position of the respective carrying elements relative to said table anterior and posterior to said magazine.

11. The combination of a movable table,

a magazine positioned at a determined point relative to the path of movement of said table, a plurality of carrying elements mounted on said table and means for controlling the varying positions of the respective carrying elements anterior and posterior to said magazine.

12. The combination of a movable table, a magazine positioned at a determined point relative to the path of movement of said table, a plurality of carrying elements mounted on said table and means for controlling the varying positions of the respective carrying elements anterior and posterior to said magazine, said last-named means comprising a cam having its efiective surface extending along the path of movement of said table.

13 The combination of amovable table, means for creating a magnetic field adjacent said table, carrying means mounted on said table and Within said magnetic field and means for varying the position of said carrying means relative-to said magnetic field.

14. The combination of a movable support, means for creating a force directed toward said support and a plurality of carrying elements mounted on said support.

15. The combination of a support, a plurality of holding elements carried thereon clutch controlling said gearing and means responsive to the extent of grinding effected by said grinding device for controlling said clutch.

17 The combination with feeding means,

of a grinder having a face arranged adjacent said feeding means, means for rotating said grinder and means for automatically controlling the position of said grinder rela': tive to said feeding means.

18. The combination witn a substantially horizontal feeding means, of a grinding device, a shaft for said grinding device disposed in a substantially vertical plane, a substantially horizontal support for said shaft, means for rotating said-shaft and means for. automatically varying the vertical distance of said'grinding device from said support, said last-named means being re sponsive to the extent of grindingeifected by said grinding device.

19. The combination of feeding means,

means thereon adapted to hold the article to be ground, a grinding device disposed adjacent said feeding means and effecting the.

grinding of the article on one face of said grinding device, ineans for rotating said grinding device and means for automatically varying the distance of said grinding device from said feeding means, said last named means being responsive to. the extent of grinding effected by said one face of the grinding device.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

PATRICK F. RoAcH.

Witnesses:

LUOIEN T. W ARNER, WILLIAM WEBB. 

